News

Alright guys, we’re on to the final week of the Spring/Summer schedule. I’ve compiled a list of the shows we’ve got left and what time they’re showing. I’ve also added if they’re going to be showing a live stream of the show and where you can find it. I’ll update the list with live stream links as I come across them! All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

After a few months of speculation, WWD reports that Alexander Wang will be leaving Balenciaga after 3 short years as designer for the French house. No specifics at the time have been released about the reasoning behind the decision. Wang, who operates his namesake label out of NYC, may be leaving to devote more time and energy to his own label which is a thriving business.

Kering, the parent company currently behind the Balenciaga label, has not yet released a statement. In the few years that Wang was behind the the brand, they saw a double digit growth in sales and oversaw the opening of new stores, bringing the houses total to 90 global locations. The house brings in a large percentage of its yearly revenue from its luxury leather goods, from shoes to handbags.

As for who will be taking over the helm of the brand, which will be celebrating its centennial in 2017, that has yet to be discussed at this early stage. Kering, who also operates Italian brand Gucci, may be seeking a newcomer to take over the position. Gucci, which reportedly has seen a steady growth in sales, recently appointed relatively unknown designer Alessandro Michele to take control.

It’s reported that Alexander Wang will show his last collection for the house this September during the Spring Summer 2016 collection showings in Paris.

After more than a decade of absence from the runways, Yves Saint Laurent will be venturing into the exclusive world of couture. Hedi Slimane, who took over as creative director for the French house in 2012, will oversee the creation of both men and women’s hand-made pieces. It has not been told if they will be showing on the runways, or if they will just be creating one-of-a-kind pieces which we are sure to see on the backs of some of hollywoods a-listers as they saunter the red carpet.

The historic fashion house created a new atelier inside the Hôtel de Sénecterre, boasting of special spaces for dressmaking, tailoring, and a parlor for esteemed clients to try their custom outfits. All clothes created under the label will be numbered and specially tagged with the ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ label, a historic step back from the ‘Saint Laurent’ rebranding that was undertook by Slimane when he took helm of the design house. While there has been no official revealing of collection pieces, we were graced with a photoshoot featuring models seen wearing everything from smoking tuxedos to elegantly draped gowns. Check out all the photos after the jump!

Oh the rumor mill has starting churning again. The newest piece of juicy gossip that it has spit out you wonder? Stefano Pilati may just be headed to a new job, taking the reigns over as the womenswear designer at Giorgio Armani. If you’re as big of a fan of Pilati as we are, this information will make you grin ear to ear. While there has been no official announcement, or even a hint of a departure from company founder and current designer Giorgio Armani, the speculations have still been flying. Pilati, who after his departure from Yves Saint Laurent in 2012, most recently worked for knitwear company Angona, recently stepped down from the position so he is free to “pursue other women’s ready-to-wear projects”.

Pilati is most well known for the years at the helm of the Parisian brand Yves Saint Laurent, where he was the lead designer from 2004 to 2012. During his years there, he gained international fame, creating many iconic statement pieces and accessories, and gained a large fan base, including top models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, both of whom consider Pilati a close friend. His designs for the house were often compared to Armani’s label, with even Armani himself stating that “Pilati’s already doing Armani”. What an easy transition would that be then? Certainly someone as talented as Pilati could handle the pressure of taking over such a large and iconic Italian brand. But for now, all we can do is hold our breath and wait for news to break.